Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE WIFE-CARRYING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
What began as a heathenish medieval habit of pillaging neighbouring villages in search of
nubile women has become one of Finland's oddest - and most publicised - events. Get to
Sonkajärvi, in the northern Lakeland, for the
Wife-Carrying World Championships
(
www.eukonkanto.fi
)
in early July.
It's a race over a 253.5m obstacle course, where competitors must carry their 'wives'
through water traps and over hurdles to achieve the fastest time. The winner gets the
wife's weight in beer and the prestigious title of World Wife-Carrying Champion. To enter,
men need only €50 and a consenting female. There's also a 40-plus and team competi-
tion, all accompanied by a weekend of drinking, dancing and typical Finnish frivolity.
Activities
Jätkänkämppä
SAUNA
Aug & Nov-Dec, 4-11pm Jun-Aug)
This giant
savusauna
(smoke sauna) is a memorable, sociable experience that draws locals
and visitors. It seats 60 and is mixed: you're given towels to wear. Bring a swimsuit for
lake dipping - devoted locals and brave tourists do so even when it's covered with ice.
Repeat the process several times. Then buy a beer and relax, looking over the lake in
Nordic peace.
adjacent loggers' cabin serves traditional Finnish dinners when the sauna's on, with accor-
dion entertainment and a lumberjack show. Buses 7 and 9 head to Rauhalahti hotel, from
where it's a 600m walk, or take a summertime cruise from the harbour.
Rauhalahti
OUTDOORS
This estate is full of activities for families, including boating, cycling, tennis and minigolf
in summer, and skating, ice-fishing and snowmobiling in winter. You can hire bikes, row-
